IRELAND AND ITS FLAG.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15175, 14 December 1912, Page 7

IRELAND AND ITS FLAG.

NO COMPULSORY EMBLEM.

(Received December 14, 12.15 a.m.)

London, December 13.

The House of Commons, by S3 to 166, rejected a new clause proposed by Mr. Hattersley, making the Union Jack the Irish flag. Mr. J. McVeagh (Nationalist member for Down South), in a flippant speech, asked why Ireland should be forbidden to do what every colony and dominion was allowed to do.

Mr. A. Birrell (Chief Secretary for Ireland) said that a compulsory flag "Would not encourage loyalty. A compulsory loyalty was as impossible as a compulsory religion. . Mr. Balfour denounced Mr. MacVeagh for ridiculing the Union Jack, and recalled the United States' insistence on the symbolism of a national flag.

Mr. J. Redmond (Leader of the Nationalists) said that . the Union Jack would fly /in Dublin as the symbol of the Empire. Alongside of it would be the green flag as a sign of local nationality, of which every Irishman would be proud. •. ; 'The Bill finally passed through .committee,, and the Liberals enthusiastically cheered the Prime Minister and his colleagues.

| WHAT THE LORDS MAY DO. i Under the provisions of the Parliament (Veto) Act the House of.Lords (to which the measure will shortly be sent) may reject the Home Rule Bill in three successive sessions after the measure has been passed by the House of Commons. After the third rejection the Bill may be presented to the King and become law on the Royal Assent being given, notwithstanding that the Lords have not agreed to the Bill. This provision is subject to the stipulation that not less than two years shall -have elapsed from the date of the Bill first passing its second reading in the House of Commons, and the date on which it passes that Chamber for the third time. The Lords thus have the power to delay the passage of the Bill for two years.